Magnetic supporting means

ABSTRACT

A magnetic supporting means comprising a holder composed of magnetically conductive material having bottom and side portions, a magnetic source member received within said holder proximate, to its bottom and side portions and means secured with the bottom portion of the holder for attaching the holder to a supporting surface. The holder is composed of a metallic material with its side portions extending beyond the magnetic source member which is received therewithin, and the member comprises a flexible plastic material with permanently magnetized ferrite particles embedded therein.

United States Patent [191 Kushner [4 1 Oct. 22, 1974 1 1 MAGNETICSUPPORTING MEANS 3,419,832 12/1968 Baermann 248/206 A x [76] Inventor:Marlene Kushner, 4122 Barberry Dr L f tt Hi1 p 19444 PrimaryExaminer-Wilham H. Schultz [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 57 ABSTRACT [21]Appl. No.: 323,885 I 1 2 I A magnetic supporting means comprising aholder composed of magnetically conductive material having [52] 211/6021 l/DIG' 248/37'6 bottom and side portions, a magnetic source member[51] Ilit. Cl A47g 21/14. received within Said holder proximate, to itsbottom [58] Fleld 0f Search 21 1/60 T, DIG. l, and side portions andmeans Secured with the bmtom 248/37'6 206 467 portion of the holder forattaching the holder to a supporting surface. The holder is composed ofa metallic [56] References cued material with its side portionsextending beyond the UNITED STATES PATENTS magnetic source member whichis received there- 2,697,804 12/1954 Phelon 248/376 ux ithin, and themember comprises a flexible plastic 2,959,832 11/1960 Baermann 248/206 AX material with permanently magnetized ferrite particles 2,966,9921/1961 Dunkelberger et al. 248/206 A X embedded therein, 3,039,7276/1962 Engel et a] 248/245 3,365,684 1/1968 Stemke et al. 248/206 A X 2Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MAGNETIC SUPPORTING MEANS The inventionrelates to a magnetic supporting means and particularly a means whichcan be secured with a supporting surface and magnetically attracts andremovably supports a plurality of items composed of magneticallyattracted materials.

Heretofore, many attachment means have been pro vided for securing witha wall or surface for the purpose of holding various tools and articlesin an orderly fashion. Such devices have included various hooks,brackets and structures which were nailed or screwed into the wall, andon which the retained articles were secured. The present inventionprovides a magnetic supporting means which may be easily attached to asup porting surface and which-utilizes magnetic forces for detachablyretaining magnetically attracted items.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsupporting means which may quickly be attached to a supporting surfacewith a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmagnetic supporting means using magnetic means for detachably securingarticles in an orderly fashion. N

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmagnetic supporting means of substantially flat configuration, andattractive appearance.

Another object of this invention is to supply a new and improvedmagnetic supporting means which may be easily manufactured and assembledand produced at low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmagnetic supporting means of high utility which is highly durable andmaintenance free.

The objects of the invention as well as additional objects are achievedby providing a magnetic supporting means comprising a holder composed ofmagnetically conductive material having bottom and side portions and amagnetic source member received within the holder proximate to itsbottom and side portions, and means secured with the bottom portion ofthe holder for attaching the holder to a supporting surface. The holderis composed of metallic material, with side portions having edgesextending beyond the magnetic source member while the member comprises aflexible material with permanently magnetized ferrite particles embeddedtherein.

In one form, the holder is an elongated metallic channel of U-shapedcross-section having a bottom portion and a pair of upstanding legportions, while the member comprises an elongated strip received withinand in contact with the bottom and leg portions of the holder. Anelongated adhesive material is secured with the outer surface of thebottom portion of the holder for attaching in the holder to a supportingsurface.

In another form, the magnetic supporting means comprises a metallic cuphaving a U-shaped cross section with a circular shaped bottom portionand an upstanding edge portion. The magnetic source member comprises adisc of flexible plastic material received within and in contact withthe bottom and edge portions of the holder. The upstanding edge portionhas a circular configuration and extends beyond the member retainedwithin the holder. An adhesive material is also secured with the outersurface of the bottom portion of the holder for attaching the holder toa supporting surface.

The foregoing objects of the invention will become more apparent as thefollowing detailed description of the invention is read in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a magnetic supporting meansembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the means shown in FIG. 1, withportions broken away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. I illustratingthe means attached to a supporting surface.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the magneticsupporting means, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 1 through 3, inclusive, disclose a magnetic sup porting means 10embodying the invention.

The magnetic supporting means 10 comprises a holder 12 made of amagnetically-conducting material such as low carbon steel which ispreferably cold rolled and milled to close tolerance to form the channel14 of U-shaped cross-section having a bottom portion 16 and a pair ofside or leg portions 18 and 20.

r? A magnetic source member 22 comprises an elongated flat strip 24having top and bottom surfaces 26 .and 28, and side surfaces 30 and 32,providing a substantially rectangular cross-section. The strip 24 isdimensioned to fit closely into the channel 14 with its bottom surface28 contacting the inner bottom surface of the bottom portion 16 of thechannel 14, while its side surfaces 30 and 32, respectively, contact theinside surfaces of the leg portion 18 and 20 of the channel 14. Themaintenance of good contact. between said surfaces is important formaximizing the magnetic holding force provided by the magneticsupporting means 10.

The top surface 26 of the strip 24 faces outwardly and may be coveredwith a finishing strip 34 of material which may be made of thin vinylplastic. The plastic strip 34 may be provided in desirable colors anddesigns for enhancing the appearance of the magnetic holding means 10.As illustrated, the plastic strip 34 extends over and covers the topsurface 26 of the member 22 and extends over and about the ends at 36,38 and on to the marginal end portions of its bottom surface 28 asclearly illustrated in FIG. 2. By this means, the strip 34 completelycovers the source member 22 which is externally visible when the means10 is in its assembled form.

In place of the vinyl tape, the magnetic source member 22 may be paintedto provide a finishing layer and attractive appearance without affectingthe operativeness and utility of the magnetic holding means 10.

When in assembled form as illustrated in the figures, the parallel endedges 40 and 42 of the leg portions 18 and 20 of the channel 14 extendslightly beyond the surface 26 of the strip 24 and its covering strip34. This relationship is of significance for the operation of themagnetic supporting means, since an object 44 such as a magneticallyattracted tool which is to be retained by the means 10 makes contactwith and bridges the edges 40 and 42 of the channel 14 for beingsupported thereby. The magnetic source member 22 and its covering 34 orpainted layer, thus must be recessed to avoid interference with suchbridging contact to provide the maximum magnetic retention force.

A securing means 46 is fixed with the bottom portion 16 of the channel14 for attaching the holder 12 to a supporting surface such as thesurface 48 in FIG. 3. The securing means 46 preferably includes adouble-faced adhesive strip 50 having one face secured with the outersurface 49 of the bottom portion 16 of the channel 14, while its othersurface is covered by a coated paper strip 52 which may be quicklypeeled off to expose an adhesive surface. The adhesive strip 50 may beof the pressure-sensitive type allowing the ready application of themagnetic supporting means 10 to any suitable surface. After being thussecured, magneticallyattracted objects may then readily be attached fororderly retention shown in FIG. 3 and removed by the exertion ofsufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction.

The disclosed device thus may easily be secured at a desired location,provides an attractive appearance, and allows magnetically attracteditems to be retained and removed, without losing its magneticeffectiveness over a long lifetime.

As an example of a specific embodiment of the invention which has beenfound to be particularly effective, the magnetic holding means providedfor its magnetic source member 22 a flexible plastic material havingembedded therein permanently magnetized ferrite particles with thedirection of magnetization being in the direction through the flat faces26 and 28 of the material. Such a flexible material providing ananisotropic property with the permanently magnetized ferrite particleshaving singular or multiple polarity is supplied by 3M Company under thename Plastiform, and by the B.F. Goodrich Company under the nameKoroseal Magnetic Strip. Optimum magnetic holding force was achieved byutilizing a three-fourths inch wide by three-sixteenths inch thickmagnetic material in an 18 gauge (one-thirty-second inch) channel 14with close contact maintained with the proximate surface of a magneticmaterial. It was found that an air gap of over .035 inch greatly lowersthe magnetic holding power. A practical length for the channel was foundto be 12 inches. A desirable extension of the edges 40 and 42 of thechannel beyond the magnetic source member 22 was found to beapproximately one-sixtyfourth inch. Alternate designs from thatspecified above may be utilized for achieving desired utility andholding power for the magnetic holding means, the above specific examplebeing provided to illustrate a preferred form which has been reduced topractice.

FIGS. 4 and disclose a magnetic supporting means 60 which is a modifiedform of the means 10. The magnetic supporting means 60 is substantiallyidentical to the means except that the holder 12' has a cup-likeconfiguration with a bottom circular portion 62 and an upstanding edgeportion 64. The magnetic source member 22 comprises a disc 66 offlexible plastic material with permanently magnetized ferrite particlesembedded therein, and which is received within and in contact with thebottom and edge portions 62 and 64 of the holder 22. The upstanding edgeportion 62 has circular configuration with its end 68 extending slightlybeyond the top surface 70 of the disc 66. This permits ready contactwith the edge portion 62 of an article 44 which is to be magneticallyretained and supported by the means 60 as shown in FIG. 5.

For the purpose of maximizing the retaining magnetic force provided bymeans 60, the disc 66 is dimensioned to provide a close fit within theholder 12' with the bottom surface 72 of the disc engaging the insidesurface of the bottom portion 62 of the holder 12', while the edgesurface 74 of the disc 62 contacts the inside surface of the upstandingedge portion 64 of the holder 12'. The outwardly facing top surface ofthe disc 66 may be painted or covered by a vinyl plastic tape or otherthin finishing coating 76 to provide a desired finished or ornamentalappearance for the means 60.

Means 46, such as double-faced adhesive layer may be secured with theouter surface of the bottom portion 62 of the holder 12' to providesecuring means for the magnetic supporting means 60 as described abovein connection with the means 10.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention willfind wide application with appropriate modification to meet theindividual design circumstances, but without substantially departingfrom the essence of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

l. A magnetic supporting means comprising a holder which is an elongatedchannel of U-shaped cross section composed of magnetically conductivematerial having bottom and side portions, a unitary elongated magneticsource member received within and substantially coextensive with thechannel of said holder proximate to its bottom and side portions, meanssecured with the bottom portion of said holder for attaching said holderto a supporting surface, the channel of said holder having a bottomportion and a pair of upstanding leg portions and said member comprisingan elongated strip of flexible plastic material with permanentlymagnetized ferrite particles embedded therein received within and incontact with the bottom and leg portions of said holder, the legportions of said holder each having an elongated edge extending beyondsaid member, the bottom portion of said channel having an elongatedouter surface, said means for attaching said holder to a supportingsurface comprising an elongated adhesive material secured with the outersurface of the bottom portion of said holder, said holder being made ofa steel material and said plastic strip being substantially equal inlength to said holder and is in close contact therewith, the strip ofsaid member being of substantially rectangular cross section with a pairof flat top and bottom surfaces and a pair of side surfaces, the bottomsurface of said strip contacting the bottom portion of said holder whilethe top surface of said strip faces outwardly, and said side surfaces ofsaid strip each contact a respective leg portion of said holder, theedges of the leg portion of said holder each extending beyond the topsurface of said strip, said member has anisotropic properties withpermanently magnetized ferrite particles with the direction ofmagnetization being between the top and bottom surfaces of said stripand a thin cover strip of non-metallic material with an exposed topsurface secured over the top surface and about the ends of said member,the edges and leg portions of said holder each extending beyond theexposed top surface of said cover strip.

2, The supporting means of claim 1 in which said adhesive materialcomprises a double-faced pressuresensitive adhesive tape with a firstface secured with said member and a second face covered by a coatedpaper strip which is removable for attaching of the holder to asupporting surface.

1. A magnetic supporting means comprising a holder which is an elongatedchannel of U-shaped cross section composed of magnetically conductivematerial having bottom and side portions, a unitary elongated magneticsource member received within and substantially coextensive with thechannel of said holder proximate to its bottom and side portions, meanssecured with the bottom portion of said holder for attaching said holderto a supporting surface, the channel of said holder having a bottomportion and a pair of upstanding leg portions and said member comprisingan elongated strip of flexible plastic material with permanentlymagnetized ferrite particles embedded therein received within and incontact with the bottom and leg portions of said holder, the legportions of said holder each having an elongated edge extending beyondsaid member, the bottom portion of said channel having an elongatedouter surface, said means for attaching said holder to a supportingsurface comprising an elongated adhesive material secured with the outersurface of the bottom portion of said holder, said holder being made ofa steel material and said plastic strip being substantially equal inlength to said holder and is in close contact therewith, the strip ofsaid member being of substantially rectangular cross section with a pairof flat top and bottom surfaces and a pair of side surfaces, the bottomsurface of said strip contacting the bottom portion of said holder whilethe top surface of said strip faces outwardly, and said side surfaces ofsaid strip each contact a respective leg portion of said holder, theedges of the leg portion of said holder each extending beyond the topsurface of said strip, said member has anisotropic properties withpermanently magnetized ferrite particles with the direction ofmagnetization being between the top and bottom surfaces of said stripand a thin cover strip of non-metallic material with an exposed topsurface secured over the top surface and about the ends of said member,the edges and leg portions of said holder each extending beyond theexposed top surface of said cover strip.
 2. The supporting means ofclaim 1 in which said adhesive material comprises a double-facedpressure-sensitive adhesive tape with a first face secured with saidmember and a second face covered by a coated paper strip which isremovable for attaching of the holder to a supporting surface.